Sea Ice Age Depict Fundamental Changes in Ice Cover

This data set provides a unique view of interdecadalchanges in a basic parameter – sea ice age in terms of number of summer melt seasons survived – that correlates with a range of fundamental sea ice conditions such as ice thickness, salinity, snow depth, and ice strength.  The approach combines satellite data and in-situ buoy drift information to track sea ice transport and survival history.  The resulting time series of ice age data and maps are provided to users in a variety of formats, and have been employed by a diverse range of customers to study long-term climate change, to evaluate their climate models, to assess changes in marine mammal habitat, and to help assess shipping hazards.  The product exploits a variety of NASA-provided satellite data sets in conjunction with NOAA AVHRR imagery and buoy data provided by the International Arctic Buoy Program.  The ice age time series represents a relatively long climate data record that can be extended into the future, using a procedure that is well suited to optimizing the value of different and new satellite and in situ data as they become available.  Recent research papers and notices making use of these data include:

MaslanikJ. A., C. Fowler, J. Stroeve, S. Drobot, J. Zwally, D. Yi, W. Emery, A younger, thinner Arctic ice cover: Increased potential for rapid, extensive sea-ice loss, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L24501, doi:10.1029/2007GL032043, 2007.

Maslanik, J., J. Stroeve, C. Fowler, and W. Emery. 2011. Distribution and trends in Arctic sea ice age through spring 2011. Geophysical Research Letters38, L13502, doi:10.1029/2011GL047735.

National Snow and Ice Data Center, Web Site, http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2011/100411.html

Stroeve, J. C., J. Maslanik, M. C. Serreze, I. Rigor, W. Meier, and C. Fowler. 2011. Sea ice response to an extreme negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation during winter 2009/2010. Geophysical Research Letter38, L02502, doi:10.1029/2010GL045662.